Electrical connector



July 19, 1949. s, DEL CAMP 2,476,404

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 15, 1946 Sap/p: M554 07/70,

Patented July 19, 1949 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Scipione M. Del Camp, Maywood, Ill., aaslgnor to Cinch Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 15, 1946, Serial No. 703,340

3 Claims. (Cl. 173-363) The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to socket connectors for the reception of a plug connector part, and aims generally to improve existing devices of that type.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved connector of such construction that will avoid the occurrence of corona discharge which is detrimental to many electrical circuits.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a connector part, such as a socket part, that will have a housed or concealed connection with a circuit conductor and which will not present any sharp edges promoting the occurrence of corona discharge in high voltage circuits.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple and economical connector of relatively small diameter and radius of curvature that will be substantially corona-preventing when used in high frequency radio apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved two-part connector for condenser terminals in television receivers.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the accompanying drawlugs and annexed specification illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged side elevation of a connector part according to one preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view of the connector as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the connector shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the connector as taken on the line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the connector as viewed from the terminal end thereof;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the plug-engaging clip part of the connector; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the casing part of the connector.

The body of the connector comprises a clip or terminal-engaging part III adapted to make a slip connection with a tight friction fit with a terminal prong P which may be an electrode terminal of an electronic component. The part gated sleeve having an outwardly flaring flange II at one end to provide an entering throat for the terminal prong P. Preferably, the sleeve is split longitudinally, as at 12, and has a normal internal diameter less than the diameter of the prong P so that a tight slip fit electrical connector with the prong P is eflected. The connector part In thus provides a resilient split sleeve adapted to have substantially continuous surface contact peripherally with the prong P.

The primary function of the connector is to provide a slip fit, frictionally engaging connection between the terminal prong P and another conductor of the circuit which may be an insulating circuit conductor 0.

Preferably, the conductor C 'is electrically connected to the connector by a standard form of connection used in the trade, as for example, a soldered connection. For this purpose, the clip or part It may be provided with a longitudinally extending blade-like tab or wiring terminal l3 which may be apertured as at ll to receive a looped core of the conductor C in accordance with customary practice. If desired, a portion of the sleeve l6 opposite the split or gap I! may be slotted as at It to add resilience to the clip.

In high voltage circuits, such as those employed in television radio apparatus, wherein high voltages are commonly employed, there is serious danger of corona discharge at the connector. Although various factors have been advanced as to the cause of corona discharge, it is generally accepted that the presence of sharp edges and points is one of the primary factors contributing to the occurrence and extent of corona discharge. Particularly, corona discharge occurs wherein an exposed edge portion of the cross sectional dimensions is presented.

Accordingly, when the connector is employed in high voltage circuit tending to develop corona discharge, the clip or prong-engaging part In is encased within a shell or holder 20 of conductor material, and which completely and continuously encases the prong-engaging portion of the clip Ill.

The holder or shell 20 preferably is formed as an elongated sleeve open at one end to provide a bore 3| to receive the clip or prong-engaging part III. The opposie end of the shell or holder 20 is closed by an end wall 22 preferably concaved within the side walls of the shell to provide a recess 23. The edges joining the side walls of the shell and concaved end wall are rounded and smooth and are devoid of sharp edges.

It conveniently may be in the form of an elon- Th c n av d nd wen u 1; preferably vided with a transverse slot 24 of a size to receive and pass the blade-like wiring terminal It so that the apertured portion it will be positioned in the recess 23 outside of the concaved end wall when the part III is positioned in the shell 20. Thus the end wall serves as a partition between the clip-receiving bore 2| and the recess 23, both of which are confined within the limits of the length of the shell or holder 20.

The diameter of the bore 2|, 1. e. the internal diameter of the shell, is preferably greater than the outer diameter of the body portion of the clip or sleeve so that a clearance exists between the shell and the clip. The upper end portion of the shell 20 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange providing a shoulder upon which the clip flange II is loosely supported. The flange 25 preferably is formed with a peripheral wall 26 adapted to be clinched or upset inwardly, as at 21, over a spacer member or washer 28 outwardly of the clip flange ll so as to hold the parts Ill and 20 in assembled relation while permitting relative expansion of the clip flange Ii on the shell flange 26. The clip or terminal-engaging part I0 is thus assembled and housed within the shell or holder 20 being restricted from axial displacement therefrom by the inwardly turned flange 21 and secured against relative rotation therewith by reason of the blade-like terminal i3 disposed in the transverse slot 24.

The soldered connection between the core of the conductor 6 with the terminal it of the connector is thus separated from the prong-receiving part of the connector by the end walls 22 which serves as a partition therebetween. In making this soldered connection, it is desirable that the solder fill the recess 23, thus constituting a seal for the joint between the terminal l3 and conductor C and avoiding any sharp points or projections such as promote the occurrence of corona.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the connector of the present invention is extremely simple in construction and economical in the cost of manufacture as compared with existing connectors adaptable for preventing corona discharge in high voltage connectors. The provision of a two-part connector is particularly advantageous both from the standpoint of man-- ufacture as well as assembly.

Furthermore, as will be apparent, the liability of corona discharge at the connector is reduced to a minimum. This is due to the fact that the entire connector part III, including the resilient prong-engaging portion as well as the terminal connection with the other conductor is completely housed within and surrounded by a continuous annular surface devoid of any sharp points or edges.

The shell 20, being of electrically conductive material, provides a continuous conductor shielding surface around the connector, thus eliminating substantially any tendency or extent of corona discharge.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with reference to one preferred embodiment thereof, I do not intend that it be limited thereto, as the scope of the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A two-piece electrical connector comprisportion open at one end for the reception of and frictional engagement with a terminal prong, a wiring terminal portion at the opposite end of said part for soldered attachment to a conductor and a corona discharge retarding tubular casing enclosing said connector part, said casing having continuous, curved, and smooth exterior surfaces surrounding the expansible sleeve and wiring terminal portion of said part, and having a partition wall adjacent one end dividing the interior of said casing into two bores, said expansible sleeve portion being disposed in one of said bores and said wiring terminal portion extending through said partition wall into the other of said bores, said other bore providing a recess adapted to be filled with solder to enclose completely the wiring terminal portion of said connector part.

2. An electrical connector comprising a connector part having a terminal prong-receiving portion at one end for frictional engagement with a terminal prong and a wiring terminal portion at the opposite end of said part for soldered attachment to a conductor and a corona discharge retarding tubular casing enclosing said connector part, said casing having continuous, curved, and smooth exterior surfaces surrounding the prongreceiving portion and the wiring terminal portions of said part and having a partition wall adjacent one end dividing the interior of said casing into two bores, said prong-receiving portion being disposed in one of said bores and said wiring terminal portion extending through said partition wall into the other of said bores, said other bore providing a recess adapted to be filled with solder to enclose completely the wiring terminal portion of said connector part.

3. A substantially corona free connector for high voltage radio-receiving apparatus and the like comprising a connector part having a terminal prong-receiving portion at one end for frictional engagement with a terminal prong and a wiring terminal portion at the opposite end of said part for soldered engagement to a conductor and a corona discharge retarding tubular casing enclosing said connector part, said casing having continuous curved and smooth exterior surfaces surrounding the prong-receiving and Wiring terminal portions of said part, one end of said casing being inwardly curved providing thereby a partition wall adjacent one end of said part dividing the interior of said easing into two bores, said prong-receiving portion being disposed in one of said bores and said wiring terminal portion extending through said partition wall into the other of said bores, said other bore providing a recess adapted to be filled with solder to enclose completely the wiring terminal portion of said connector part.

SCIPIONE M. DEL CAMP.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

